The latest on the Washington Nationals' triple-A affiliate in Syracuse from the Chiefs' front office.

Results tagged ‘ John Thomson ’

Righthanded pitcher Brandon League who never really was able to pitch this spring has been optioned to Syracuse. The hard throwing reliever has had trouble with his velocity and will likely spend time in Dunedin before making an appearance in Syracuse with the Chiefs.

The Blue Jays meanwhile need to make a few decisions this week now that League will not be part of their plans to start the season.

The rotation is nearly set with Roy Halladay, AJ Burnett, Gustavo Chacin and Tomo Ohka set. The fifth spot should go to Josh Towers who has pitched well enough to earn another chance.

BJ Ryan, Scott Downs, Brian Tallet, Jason Frasor also should be assured spots. That leaves John Thomson, Victor Zambrano, Geremi Gonzalez, Jeremy Accardo, Casey Janssen and Francisco Rosario all fighting for three spots. Zambrano and Janssen look like they are the front runners. While Rosario is out of options, and Thomson won’t begin throwing again until Friday. Gonzalez and Accardo look like they are ticketed to the Chiefs.

The Blue Jays could also help their bullpen by pulling off a late spring training trade or claiming someone off waivers this week.

The Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Philadelphia Phillies tonight in Dunedin, 10-6, on a beautiful 70 degree night at Knology Park. Righthander Josh Towers took the loss, allowing 5-runs in 4 2/3 innings. Towers, who is battling for the 5th spot in the Jays rotation, actually pitched better than his line would indicate. With John Thomson now out of the mix with tightness in his shoulder, Towers could claim that spot behind Halladay, Burnett, Chacin and Ohka.

Ryan Roberts launched a 400 foot double off the center field wall and was robbed of a base hit in the 9th. Rob Cosby, Justin Singleton and Jeff Duncan all saw action in tonight’s game.

Righty Jeremy Accardo was touched for a two-run shot by Chase Utley, while Blaine Neal also gave up 2 runs in the ninth on 4 hits. Brian Wolfe pitched another scoreless inning and remains in the mix as a non-roster invitee. Wolfe was acquired from Milwaukee last season in the Corey Koskie trade. Last season he began the year in Dunedin and finished up with New Hampshire.

Chiefs season ticket holder Peter White and his lovely wife attended tonight’s game in Dunedin – his second contest of the day. Peter tells us that he will be at tomorrow’s game,Pirates vs Blue Jays, before his return to Syracuse for the Home Opener on April 14.

The Toronto Blue Jays had two pitchers battling for a starting rotation spot pitching on Monday against the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Phillies minor leaguers. Righthander Tomo Ohka was solid as he shut down the Yankees over five innings allowing only 1-run in a 9-1 victory. Fellow righty John Thomson was not as sharp as he gave up 6-runs, in 5-innings of work against the Phillies AAA-Ottawa team that defeated the Syracuse Chiefs 7-2.

The Chiefs scored single runs in the 4th on a RBI single by Chip Cannon and one-run in the 6th on a RBI single by Adam Lind. The Chiefs banged out 8-hits off of five Scranton pitchers. Sal Fasano and Adam Lind each had two hits, while Erik Kratz had a two-out double in the ninth.

After Thompson departed in the fifth, Dustin McGowan pitched three innings giving up 1-run (solo home run) in the sixth and righthander Beau Kempwho pitched for Rochester last season tossed one scoreless inning, striking out one.

The Chiefs are off to Tampa to face Scranton on Tuesday with Ty Taubenheim expected to pitch for the Chiefs.

Don’t forget to listen to “Inside Pitch” on 1260 AM ESPN Radio on Tuesday live from Dunedin, Florida as Chiefs radio announcer Bob McElligott moves over to the Blue Jays minor league complex and talks with Chiefs skipper Doug Davis and Director of Player Development **** Scott. Today Bob took in the Jays vs Yankees game at Knology Park and talked with Jays catcher Greg Zaun, Second Baseman Aaron Hill and pitcher Josh Towers and Brandon League.

In just two weeks the major league baseball season begins and clubs are now beginning to set their rosters. After three weeks of playing minor league prospects and invitees to their camps, big league teams need to get serious and start playing their starters at least 7-innings.

Yesterday the Blue Jays sent the Chiefs four more players who will begin the season in Syracuse. One of them, Adam Lind will be welcomed BIG TIME. Lind has captured MVP honors in two different leagues on his way up and will likely continue his early career success in Syracuse this season. Hopefully, he’s here for more than just a month. Two of the Blue Jays other top prospects Alex Rios and Aaron Hill never saw June.

Also sent to the Chiefs was Russ Adams who will play everyday at Second base and corner infielders John Hattig and Rob Cosby. Hattig who can play 3rd base and 1st base batted .277 for the Chiefs last season – his first in AAA with 32 doubles. The line driver hitter with gap power needs ro improve on his power numbers (only 4 HR’s last season) to make the next jump.

Cosby not only played 3rd base and 1st base but also right and left field for the Chiefs last season and after hitting 18 home runs in his rookie season at AAA.

Also sent to the Chiefs was righthanded pitcher Ty Taubenheim who came over from the Brewers last season and was impressive early as a starter and earned a promotion to Toronto in June.

Taubenheim now joins Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez, Dustin McGowan and youngsters Michael MacDonald, Kyle Yates, David Purcey and Ricky Romero in a crowded fight for five or six spots in the Chiefs rotation.

Still with Toronto are righties Casey Janssen, Shaun Marcum and Josh Towers who are all battling Tomo Ohka and John Thomson for the final two spots in the Jays rotation.

Sounds like no matter what happens the Chiefs will be stacked with starting pitching.

Don’t forget that on Monday 5-6 PM The Voice of the Chiefs Bob McElligott will be broadcasting live from Dunedin, FL on 1260 AM ESPN Radio.

The Toronto Blue Jays minor league camp opened last week and games for their four affiliates will begin on Wednesday vs the Philadelphia Phillies organization. At the major league level, the parent club has begun sending down players including seven pitchers. Lefty Jo Matumoto joins righthanders Beau Kemp, Josh Banks, Ismael Ramirez, and yesterday Ryan Houston, Jean Machi and Tracy Thorpe found their way back to the Englebert Complex.

Only shortstop Sergio Santos and catcher Erik Kratz have been assigned from the group of non-pitchers.

First glance at the Jays pitching staff only Roy Halladay, A.J. Burnett, Gustavo Chacin, B.J. Ryan, Scott Downs, Jason Frasor, and Brian Tallet seem to be locks. That leaves probably five spots available and righthanders Jeremy Accardo and Brandon League if healthy will take up two of those. The other three spots, two are starting pitchers and one long reliever.

The candidates, Tomo Ohka, John Thomson, Josh Towers and Shaun Marcum are leading contenders with Victor Zambrano, Pete Walker and Geremi Gonzalez also in the mix. Francisco Rosario is out of options and can’t return to Syracuse.

Pitchers most likely left out and headed back to Syracuse include Dustin McGowan, Davis Romero, who was injured early in camp, Matt Roney, Ty Taubenheim, Lee Gronkiewicz, Blaine Neal, and Brian Wolfe.

Minor League camp is underway and it’s time to turn our attention to more significant matters – like reporting baseball. We have made our point and we are not going to waste your time by beating a dead horse on this space. Again only here on “Inside the Chiefs” will you receive first hand knowledge of what’s going on in spring training with the major league club, Toronto and the Syracuse Chiefs.

Non-roster catcher Erik Kratz was the first player to be sent to minor league camp as the Jays minor league affiliates reported this weekend.

Over the weekend John Thomson also pitched well – two shutout innings and Shaun Marcum pitched 2 innings, 1 run, 3 strikeouts. Francisco Rosario, who was slowed by back pain earlier this spring, pitched one shutout inning.

Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has said that Russ Adams would begin the season in Syracuse and play second base. The Blue Jays hope that Adams can return to his 2004-2005 form when he played for the Chiefs and Blue Jays and batted over .280 playing shortstop.

Former Chiefs pitchers Dave Stieb and Pat Hentgen are in camp helping with the younger pitchers and throwing batting practice.

In yesterday’s win Curtis Thigpen (2), John-Ford Griffin and John Hattig combined for 4-RBI in their 7-4 win over the Rays. On Saturday, Rob Cosby went 1 for 3 with Curtis Thigpen providing another RBI and, on Friday, Kevin Barker had a two-run home run and Ryan Roberts went 2 for 2.

Don’t forget that “Inside Pitch” will broadcast live from Dunedin, Florida beginning on March 19th when the voice of the Chiefs Bob McElligott and Chiefs General Manager John Simone provide player interviews beginning at 7PM all week long.

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